Delirium (A Divergent Fanfiction)

Chapter Six: Delirium

"Chris tells me he keeps trying to meet with you." Eric said to Four as Eric took another hamburger from the center of the table. "But you don't show up. He asked me to find you and figure out what the hell is going on with you."

"Tell him I'm satisfied with the position I currently hold." Four said flatly as if it hadn't been the first time he explained it.

"So he wants to give you the job." Eric observed, raising his eyebrow.

"So it would seem." Four replied. I could tell he was tired of the conversation.

"And you aren't interested?" Eric added.

"I haven't been interested for two years."

"Well alright then." Eric said, standing up and clapping Four on the shoulder. He walked in the opposite direction he came and as he passed me, he flashed me a sly smile that made me uneasy.

"So... he seems nice." I said to Four after Eric was out of earshot. "You two seem like pretty good pals."I say sarcastically.

"We were in the same initiate class." Four informed me. "He transferred from Erudite."

"And did you transfer, too?" I asked, which earned me a rough look from Four.

"You ask a lot of questions, Amity." he said coldly.

"Must be 'cause you're so approachable." I responded, unaffected by yet another attempt of intimidation. "You know. Like walking on hot coals." He opened his mouth to respond, but his name was called from another table. He offered me one final glare as he followed the voice away from the table. I turned to Hazel and Nicole as they raised their eyebrows at me. "What?" I asked.

"We're developing a theory." Nicole answered, licking a smudge of ketchup off her thumb.

"And what would that be?"

Hazel picked up her hamburger and grinned. "That you, my friend, have a deathwish."

"He's not really that scary, is he? He's just trying to assert dominance. Show he's the alpha male or whatever." I said, taking another bite of hamburger.

"He's not a dog." Hazel reminded me.

"No, but same rules apply. Looking away is submissive. Looking his in the eye is a challenge."

...

Dinner had finished and I still hadn't seen Four again. Eric led the initiates down a series of hallways, giving us not even a clue where we were headed. At the end of each hallway was a blue lamp, but I still had to be careful not to stumble over the uneven ground, even if the hallways weren't dark. Everyone was quiet, but not because they were told to be. Eric stopped in front of a large wooden door that had been painted black in the past. The paint was now peeling and faded. Eric folded his arms over his chest and made eye contact with me before addressing the group.

"For those who don't know or haven't been paying attention, my name is Eric and I am one of five Dauntless leaders. We take the initiation process very serious here and because of that, I volunteered to oversee most of your training." Eric would be watching the training. Great. "Some basic ground rules." He began. "You have to be in the training room by 8 o'clock every morning. No later. Training takes place everyday from eight to six, with a break in between for lunch. You are free to do whatever the hell you'd like after six as long as it's not bothering me. You will also get some time off between each stage of initiation. You are only permitted to leave the compound when accompanied by a Dauntless." Eric said and thumped on the door behind him with his knuckles. "Behind this door is the room where you will be sleeping for the next few weeks. You will notice that there are ten beds and only nine of you. We anticipated a higher proportion of you would make it this far."